Pour spout carton



Oct. 3, 1967 R, K R0B|N5ON ETAL 3,344,972

' PouR sPou'r CARTON Filed NOV. l2, 1965 United States Patent() ABSTRACT F THE DESCLSURE A rectangular carton formed of a single blank, cut and scored to dene side and end walls, and a connecting tab at one of the edges of said blank, top and bottom closure aps, a pour spout tiltably carried by a spout tab formed in an end wall, the spout tab extending into a connected top closure flap at their hinge line, and a Van- Buren type ear secured to the uppermost top closure llap and overlying the pouring spout tab when the carton is closed. The Van-Buren tab is connected by a tear line to the uppermost top closure tab on a line which extends into the tab, the opposed top closure panel being formed with a conforming edge contour, whereby when the Van- Buren tab is removed on its tear line a ngernail ingress opening remains whereby the pouring spout tab can be readily grasped and the spout actuated.

The present inventionV relates to cartons embodying a pour spout, and particularly, to an improved paperboard carton formed of an integral blank and including a selfcontained pour spout.

In order to acquaint those skilled in the art with the manner of making and using our improved carton, we shall describe, in connection with the accompanying drawings, the best mode presently contemplated by us of carrying out the invention.

In the drawings: Y Y

FIGURE l is a plan view of the carton blank as viewed from the surface thereof comprising the inner surfaces of the carton;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the blank as viewed from the opposite surface thereof and with the spout forming portion of the blank folded to its position of use;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the carton formed from the blank showing the pour spout -thereof in its closed position;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary kperspective view of the carton showing the spout opened for use;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 5 5 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to the pour spout opened; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken online 7-7 of FIGURE 3.

Referring to FIGURE 1, we have shown an integral blank for formation of our improved pour spout carton, which blank may be formed of paperboard or other materials known to and regularly employed in the art. The blank in its preferred embodiment is comprised of live relatively foldable side wall panels, namely, starting at the left, a side wall panel 10, an end wall panel 12, a side wall panel 14, an end wall panel 16 and a glue tab panel 18, all integral with one another but foldably delineated by vertical impression or score lines as indicated by parallel spaced lines in the drawings.

Projecting laterally outward from an outboard one of the side wall panels, and preferably the glue tab panel 18, is a` bridge panel 20. The bridge panel may extend the full or any portion of the height of the side Wall FIGURE 5 showing 3,344,972 Patented Oct. 3, 1967 ICC panels, but for conservation of material is preferably a short panel as shown. The bridge panel is foldably and preferably tearably connected to the panel 18, as by a serrated or interrupted cut line as indicated by the dotted line in the drawings. The bridge panel is adapted to be folded onto the inner surfaces of the carton and is of such Width as may be necessary to extend to a selected one of the wall panels 10, 12, 14 or 16. In the preferred embodiment, the bridge panel is of a Width to extend t0 the mid-portion of the end wall panel 16 adjacent the glue tab 18 when the bridge is folded back along the line of juncture between it and the glue tab. To accommodate subsequent folding of the glue tab relative to the panel 16, the bridge includes a second fold or tear line located to coincide with the glue tab fold line when the carton components are folded.

Formed integrally with the bridge panel is a spout 22 comprised of a center section 23 foldably connected to the bridge panel on an impression line extending transversely of the side wall panels 10-18, and a pair of earS 24 foldably connected to the opposite sides of said center section. The ears are separated from the bridge per se by cuts, indicated by solid lines in the drawings, and these cuts are preferably angular 4so that each ear subtends an angle greater than degrees. The upper edges of the two ears are curved through an arc of about 90 degrees, terminating at about the level of the lower edge of the section 23, and a stop tab 26 is provided at the outer end of each ear.

As above stated, the bridge 20 is of a width to extend to a selected one of the side or end wall panels, specifically the panel 16, thereby to position the center section 23 of the spout 22 in abutting engagement with the inner surface of such panel, as depicted in FIGURE 2. In the preferred embodiment, the center section of the spout is thus located centrally of the relatively narrow end panel 16. Also, in the preferred structure, the spout is aligned with the upper edge portion of the wall panels so as to be located immediately adjacent the top of the completed carton.

At the described resultant location of the center section of the spout on the panel 16, said panel is provided with a spout lla-p 28 of the same or slightly larger dimensions than the spout, said flap preferably being defined by an upper edge cut 30, serrated or tearable side edge cuts 32 and a bottom line that may be either an impression fold line or :an interrupted cut. Prior to folding of the rbridge panel, a narrow strip of glue is applied to either the inner surface of the center section of the spout and the vertically aligned portions of the bridge, or the inner surface of the spout flap 28 and vertically aligned portions lof the panel 16, whereby upon folding of the bridge, the bridge and the center section of the spout are secured to the panel 16 and the Hap 28, respectively, as is shown in FIGURE 2.

Each of the wall panels 10, 12, 14 and 16 is provided at the top and bottom edges thereof with respective top and bottom end closure flaps 10a and 10b, 12a and 12b, 14a and 14b, and 16a and 16b. A particular feature of the invention is formation of the blank to define both a pour spout and a Van-Buren ear type of end closure from a unitary blank or paperboard. Specifically, the outermost end flaps 14a and 14b foldably connected to the side wall 14 are comprised of an end wall portion 114a and 114b, respectively, and a pair of Van-Buren ears 214i: and 214b, respectively, that are cut out of the adjacent dust flaps 12a and 12b and 16a and 16b, the ears being foldably or tearably connected to the respective portion 114a and 114b by approprite straight line impressions. Also, the top flap Van-Buren ear 214a adjacent the spout containing panel 16 is delineated from the portion 114g by a curved serrated tear line 34. The flap 10a connected to the side wall panel preferably has a complemental curved edge 36.

Assuming the blank is in the condition depicted in FIG- URE 1, a strip of glue for the spout 22 may be applied in either of the locations previously described, and a strip of glue may also be applied along the inner sur-face of the free edge portion of the panel 10. The bridge may then be folded over onto the panels 16 and 18, the panels 16 and 18 may be folded onto the panel 14 along the line `between panels 14 and 16, and the panel 10 may be folded falong the line between it and the panel 12 whereupon the panel 10 will overlie the panel 12, part of the panel 14 and the glue tab 18 to bring the glued edge of panel 10 into contact with the tab. In this condition, the blank may be pressed in a flat but enclosing condition to set the glue and cause the spout 22 to be adhered to the ap 28 and the panels 10 :and 1S to `be secured together. The carton then has continuous side wall, but is in a flat collapsed condition in which it may be stored and shipped until ready for use. During the above described folding, the spout ear 2.4 adjacent the panel 14 will be folded, but this is of no consequence. Also, during this or subsequent folding, the bridge may break or tear at either of the vertical tear lines therein, but this again is of no consequence once the center section 23 of the spout has been secured to the flap 28.

When the carton is ready for use, application of slight compressive force to the two folded edges thereof, i.e., at the fold lines between panels 10 and 12 and panels 14 and 16, will push the side walls into a rectangular carton configuration. The bottom may then be closed by forlding in the flaps 12b and 16b, then the flap 10b and nally the liap `14b, the ears 214b then being folded up against the outer surfaces of panels 12 and 16 to complete the bottom of the box. Preferably, glue is applied to the inner surfaces of flap 14b and ears Z14b prior to folding to close the bottom of the carton.

The carton may then be lled with any appropriate pourable product, such as granular soap or detergent, and the top then closed in the same manner as described with respect to the bottom. It is to be noted in particular that when the end flap 16a is folded inwardly, the upper edge portion of the flap 28 becomes freely exposed due to the cut 30, which for purposes of enhancing this feature is preferably extended slightly beyond the normal fold line and slightly into the ap 16a. Then, when the Hap 14a and Van-Buren ears 214:1 are folded and glued in position, they cover and seal off this slot or edge so that there can be no leakage from the carton or its pour spout, as will be readily apparent from FIGURE 3.

When the purchaser of the detergent or other product packaged in the carton is ready to use the same, he or she need only pull upward on the Van-Buren ear 214a that is shown in FIGURE 3 to expose the flap 28, and especially the free top edge thereof. As the purchaser pulls upward on the ear, the same wi'll tear away from the rest of the carton along the curved line 34 (which is now `aligned with the curved edge 36 `of flap 10a) to open up a crescent shaped recess at one end of the top of the carton (FIGURE 4) into which recess the free edge 30 of the tab 28 extends. The purchaser may then insert his or her fingernail into the slot formed by the cut 30, and pull outwardly and downwardly on the flap to tilt the ap and the attached center section 23 of the spout out of the wall 16. As this occurs, the spout ears 24 pivot out of the box through the opening thus formed, the parts 28, 23 and 24 thereupon constituting a three-sided pour spout for the carton, as is shown in FIGURES 4 and 6. The spout, of course, may thereafter be opened and closed at will until the contents of the carton are consumed.

As shown in FIGURE 6, the tabs 26 on the ears 24 will normally engage the inner surfaces of the carton to limit outward tilting of the pour spout, and particularly prevent movement of the ears entirely out of the carton. Normally, the tabs will limit movement to a position such as shown in FIGURE 6, but a greater degree of pressure will permit opening to a full 9() degrees as shown in FIG- UREl 4. At the latter point, the tabs 26 abut both the top of the carton and the side wall panel 16 and prohibit further movement of the spout. This capability for full degrees opening is desirable, and it is for this reason that the ears are eut `on an angle or inclination to subtend an angle greater than 90 degrees, so that the stop tabs 26 can be located a full 90 degrees distant from the center section 23.

From the foregoing, it is manifest that the present invention provides an improved pour spout carton that is practical, efficient and economical.

While we have shown and described what we regard to lbe the preferred embodiment of our invention, it is to be appreciated that various changes, rearrangements and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A pour spout carton comprising a carton blank cut and scored to define a pair of side wall panels, end wall panels and a glue tab panel, dust aps hingedly secured to said end wall panels, and first and second top closure flaps hingedly secured to said side walls and adapted to be sequentially folded over said dust fiaps, a bridge panel foldably connected to and projecting laterally from the free edge of said glue tab panel, and a spout comprised of a center section spaced from said free edge and foldably connected to said bridge panel on a line transverse to said edge and a pair of ears foldably connected to the opposite sides of said center section, said panels upon relative folding thereof disposing said center section of said spout in abutting engagement with the inner surface of one of said end wall panels, said center section being secured to said surface, said end wall panel having a spout ap delineated therein by a spaced pair of tear lines in alignment with and embracing the side edges of said center section, a tear line extending into the hingedly connected dust Hap and a score line in alignment with the foldable connection of said center section to said bridge panel so said spout flap and said center section can be tilted out of said end wall panel and said ears will slide within the opening to thus form and constitute a three-sided pour spout for the carton, the second top closure flap having a Van-Buren ear hingedly connected to a lateral edge thereof and adapted to overlie the upper edge of said spout ap, said ear being additionally tearable from said top closure ap along a tear line extending thereinto, the lateral edge of the first closure flap being contoured to conform to that of the top closure flap when said Van- Buren ear is separated therefrom on its said tear line to thereupon leave a finger-nail ingress opening for ready engagement of said spout flap and its connected threesided pour spout.

2. A carton as set forth in claim 1, the portions of said bridge panel aligned with said center section also being secured to the inner surface of said one end wall panel.

3. A carton as set forth in claim 1, said ears including arcuate edge portions at the edges thereof opposite the foldable connection of said center section to said bridge panel facilitating tilting movement of the ears through said opening, and tab means at the edge of said portions for abutment with the inner surfaces of the box to prevent movement of said ears entirely through said opening.

4. A carton as set forth in claim 1, said wall panels being foldable to flat enclosing form with said center section of said spout engaging said spout fiap and said glue tab panel engaging said other outboard panel, thereby to accommodate securement of said center section and said tab panel while the blank is in flat folded condition.

5. A carton as set forth in claim 4, said bridge panel projecting a short distance vfrom said tab panel for engage- 5 ment with and securement to the adjacent side wall panel in the flat folded condition of the blank.

6. A `carton as set forth in claim 1, said bridge panel having tearable connection with said glue tab panel.

7. A pour spout carton comprised of a carton blank having a plurality 0f foldably connected side wall panels including a glue tab panel as an outboard one of said panels, a bridge panel foldably connected to said glue tab panel and projecting laterally outward therefrom, a spout comprising a center section spaced from said glue tab panel and foldably connected to said bridge panel 0n a line transverse to said glue tab panel and a pair of ears foldably connected to opposite sides of said center section, the side Wall panel adjacent said glue tab panel having a spout flap therein aligned transversely of the panels with said spout, the portion of said bridge panel between said glue tab panel and said center section being of a width equal t0 the Width of said glue tab panel and the distance between said glue tab panel and said spout flap; said bridge panel being foldable Onto the inner surface of said glue tab panel and the adjacent side wall panel to abut the center section of said spout against said spout flap, and said side wall panels being relatively foldable to abut said glue tab panel against the inner surface of the other outboard panel said carton further including top Wall flaps foldably connected to said side wall panels, the top flap on the side wall panel next adjacent the panel bearing said spout Hap having a Van-Buren ear adjacent the panel bearing said spout ap and being tearably connected to said top flap in an arcuate line extending inwardly of the lateral edge of said top ap, the opposed top flap being disposed therebeneath and formed with a conforming arcuate lateral edge portion, said spout being positioned adjacent the top edge of its side wall panel and said spout ap extending into and being separable from its connected top flap, said Van-Buren ear being foldable to overlie said spout flap.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,539,895 6/1925 Allen 229-17 1,907,939 5/1933 Venning, et al 229-17 2,029,747 2/1936 Venning, et al 229-17 '2,358,659 9/1944 Ringler 229-17 2,742,220 4/ 1956 Lynes 229-17 2,812,127 11/ 1957 Graybill 229-17 3,096,011 7/1963 Davis 229-17 3,178,090 4/ 1965 Connell 229-17 3,184,137 5/1965 Mohler 229-17 3,226,003 12/ 1965 Hickin 229-17 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

DAVIS T. MOORHEAD, Examiner. 

1. A POUR SPOUT CARTON COMPRISING A CARTON BLANK CUT AND SCORED TO DEFINE A PAIR OF SIDE WALL PANELS, END WALL PANELS AND A GLUE TAB PANEL, DUST FLAPS HINGEDLY SECURED TO SAID END WALL PANELS, AND FIRST AND SECOND TOP CLOSURE FLAPS HINGEDLY SECURED TO SAID SIDE WALLS AND ADAPTED TO BE SEQUENTIALLY FOLDED OVER SAID DUST FLAPS, A BRIDGE PANEL FOLDABLY CONNECTED TO AND PROJECTING LATERALLY FROM THE FREE EDGE OF SAID GLUE TAB PANEL, AND A SPOUT COMPRISED OF A CENTER SECTION SPACED FROM SAID FREE EDGE AND FOLDABLY CONNECTED TO SAID BRIDGE PANEL ON A LINE TRANSVERSE TO SAID EDGE AND A PAIR OF EARS FOLDABLY CONNECTED TO THE OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID CENTER SECTION, AND PANELS UPON RELATIVE FOLDING THEREOF DISPOSING SAID CENTER SECTION OF SAID SPOUT IN ABUTTING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE INNER SURFACE OF ONE OF SAID END WALL PANELS, SAID CENTER SECTION BEING SECURED TO SAID SURFACE, SAID END WALL PANEL HAVING A SPOUT FLAP DELINEATED THEREIN BY A SPACED PAIR OF TEAR LINES IN ALIGNMENT WITH AND EMBRACING THE SIDE EDGES OF SAID CENTER SECTION, A TEAR LINE EXTENDING INTO THE HINGEDLY CONNECTED DUST FLAP AND A SCORE LINE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE FOLDABLE CONNECTION OF SAID CENTER SECTION TO SAID BRIDGE PANEL SO SAID SPOUT FLAP AND SAID CENTER SECTION CAN BE TILTED OUT OF SAID END WALL PANEL AND SAID EARS WILL SLIDE WITHIN THE OPENING TO THUS FORM AND CONSTITUTE A THREE-SIDED POUR SPOUT FOR THE CARTON, THE SECOND TOP CLOSURE FLAP HAVING A VAN-BUREN EAR HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO A LATERAL EDGE THEREOF AND ADAPTED TO OVERLIE THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID SPOUT FLAP, SAID EAR BEING ADDITIONALLY TEARABLE FROM SAID TOP CLOSURE FLAP ALONG A TEAR LINE EXTENDING THEREINTO, THE LATERAL EDGE OF THE FIRST CLOSURE FLAP BEING CONTOURED TO CONFORM TO THAT OF THE TOP CLOSURE FLAP WHEN SAID VANBUREN EAR IS SEPARATED THEREFROM ON ITS SAID TEAR LINE TO THEREUPON LEAVE A FINGER-NAIL INGRESS OPENING FOR READY ENGAGEMENT OF SAID SPOUT FLAP AND ITS CONNECTED THREESIDED POUR SPOUT. 